Archive for May 2013

In the list of on-ramps into Heavenly realms, #4 was “going into the Word” (see March 6 and Feb.11 postings). The Word of God is so alive that we may enter into its experiences and receive the revelation He intends to give us. On the other hand – if we don’t read it, we will forfeit that on-ramp.

It is also important to know the Word and have a solid foundation there. Any experiences we have must be founded in scripture. There may be many prophetic experiences you have which cannot be found “specifically” in scripture, but they must fit into the themes of scripture … the character of God and of His angels … the foundational truths of the Word. There must be no conflict between the Word of God and your dreams and visions. For example – Jesus will never tell you to do anything that violates His Word.

#5 on the list of on-ramps into Heavenly Realms was a “Godly imagination.” (see March 18 and April 1 postings) Reading these once again will be very helpful to see our imagination in a positive light. On the other hand, entertaining a carnal imagination will empower negative things. If focusing our thoughts and imaginations on God and His plans for us empowers those plans, then allowing our imagination to be used in negative ways will empower things like fear and anxiety. It can also empower those fears to become reality, like prophesying over yourself for good or for evil. We do have that power. Our imaginations must be guarded and practiced. Heb. 5:14 tells us that “solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use or practice have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

In the posting of March 19, I said that “our creative nature (we were made in the image of God who created all there is), when coupled with our imagination, can jump-start us into a place where all things are possible.” Conversely, our creative nature and imagination can be used for great evil. Just before the flood in Gen. 6:5 God declared that every imagination of the thoughts of mans heart was only evil continually. Man, apart from God, has always chosen to use his God given imagination for evil. When this happens, great evil is loosed in the earth.

Since man was given stewardship over this earth (Gen.1:28,29, Psa. 115:16) we have the authority to cooperate with God and see great blessing here – or to submit to the enemy and see destruction and evil overtake us. This is why our intercession is important. We still have the ability to change the balance here. Even the earth itself is crying out with us (Rom.8:19,22) for the sons of God to come into their full authority so that we may participate with the Lord in His restoration process. Practice speaking restoration and blessing into the atmosphere when you are out in nature. You can speak to your own land and garden or to places that need restoring. Lay your hands on news articles and photos of places where storms have done great destruction. Speak blessing and restoration to the land, the water, the animals and the people. Pray for His Kingdom to come … as it is in Heaven, as He taught us. (Matt.6:10)

Ask the Lord to give you creative ideas and inventions. There is a great release of this among God’s people now. I recently read of some young men with a dream and an idea for water purification systems. Now they travel into war torn areas to provide clean water in conflict zones and for those in refugee camps (http://ilovearc.org/) God has no shortage of ideas and answers and He loves to use His people to implement them and bring hope. That’s why we are here.

If you realize you have been using your imagination in a wrong way, if it has been compromised to the enemy in any way, simply repent and return to the Lord. Ask Him to sanctify your imagination, to set it apart as holy unto Him. Then guard your heart and mind. Do not entertain the enemy’s thoughts but fill your mind with God’s word and His thoughts about you. Ask Him to dream with you and show you what He imagines for your life. It will change everything and jump-start your creativity once again.

We have been discussing several on-ramps into Heavenly realms. (see previous postings) In that list # 2 and 3 were “entering into our past dreams and visions and also those of other people.” Our prophetic encounters with the Lord can be re-entered and also used as an on-ramp into His realm. The same holds true for listening to other people’s experiences, whether through books, videos or hearing them personally. When we speak of the Lord, He comes with His presence. It’s an open invitation for those who hear or read to enter as well.

If entering Heavenly realms is possible in this way, then it is also true that re-entering negative dreams or experiences, whether our own or others, can block us from His presence. If we talk about the Lord and He shows up, the same is true when we begin to talk about the enemy and his evil realm. We have all experienced this in small groups when someone is speaking of the Lord and His presence floods the room … or when someone wants to talk about demonic activity and suddenly the light is sucked from the room and you feel a cold chill.

If there was witchcraft or any type of occult activity in your past (or your generations) repent of it and renounce it. Do not go back to think about or re-enter those experiences or nightmares again. They are a trap that must be avoided. In the same way, it is very unwise to read of other peoples occult experiences or activities. Do not allow that into your house or your thoughts. It opens up a realm of darkness instead of light. We are of the light, not the darkness (1 Thess. 5:5)

If you are a counsellor you will have to listen to many negative experiences. The purity and holiness of your own heart will be a safety for you. Then when the enemy comes he will find nothing in you that can be used to bring you down. (John 14:30) Make it a practice, before and after counselling sessions, to repent of all sin and plead the blood of Jesus over you. This is not out of fear but wisdom because we are not ignorant of the enemy’s devices. (2 Cor. 2:11) He always seeks to gain entrance. (1 Pet. 5:8) Counsellors and intercessors need to be careful not to take the pain and trauma of others upon themselves. This helps nothing. God is the great counsellor and intercessor and our goal is always to bring them to Him. He is the one with the comfort and answers. Sometimes that will flow through us in words of wisdom or acts of compassion. Sometimes the wisdom is just to bring them to Him so they can experience His presence. Teach them how to find Him. Place them in His arms and let Him do the rest. Then leave the pain and trauma with Him.

There are nightmares sent by the enemy to torment us. Perhaps this is a good time to note something important. Nightmares sometimes come from traumas of the past. This includes not only obvious emotional trauma … death of a loved one, divorce, miscarriage, job loss, bankruptcy and other obvious situations, but also things like accidents and injury. The enemy loves to find a weak spot and use it as a place to attack us repeatedly. If you are experiencing this, lay your hands on your head and let me pray for you.

“Father, in Jesus name I break the shock and trauma off of these people. I command nightmares and destructive thought patterns to cease now and be replaced with dreams and visions from the Lord. Fill them with Your peace.”

Another important thing to know about nightmares, especially in children, is this … the enemy knows that this is a prophetic generation of young people and he tries to stop that in its infancy. His tactic is to send frightening nightmares which cause the children to be afraid, not only of sleep but of dreaming! When this is happening to your children you can be assured that they are dreamers who God wants to dream through and speak through! Satan has overplayed his hand. Pray with your children, rebuke the enemy and command nightmares and all their ill effects to be gone and replaced by God’s dreams. Pay close attention to your childrens dreams and never just pass them off as childish. God does speak to them and through them.

We can enter into other people’s experiences in a positive way by hearing testimonies of angels and Heavenly realms. Or we can enter into another persons negative experiences and be adversely affected by them. Just as there are Godly impartations through various forms of media, there are also ungodly and evil impartations through books, movies etc. We do well when we choose to avoid these things, keeping watch over our own minds, our homes and our families.